After decades of its bunker-like presence at one of Toronto's most prominent intersections, the first signs of change for the long-maligned concrete Bloor Street wall of the Hudson’s Bay Centre complex are now in evidence. The plan to modernize the existing Bloor Yorkville Marriott Hotel which first emerged as a Site Plan Approval application in November, 2018 is now becoming a reality as construction moves through its early stages, with the renewed hotel aiming to re-open as the first W Hotel property in Toronto this June.

New entrance, elevator, and rooftop addition at Hudson’s Bay Centre, image via submission to City of Toronto

The work being carried out now includes an architectsAlliance-designed rooftop bar/restaurant addition to the 6th floor of the hotel sitting atop the Hudson's Bay store, as well as a modernized Bloor Street entrance and an external glass-fronted elevator shaft providing direct access to the bar/restaurant from street level. The exterior changes will create an arguably much-needed interruption in the block-long expanse of concrete that has overwhelmed the north side of this block of Bloor Street for almost 5 decades.

Hudson’s Bay Centre, December 22, 2019, image by Forum contributor androiduk

With planning and building permit hurdles were cleared, the first signs of construction activity were spotted in December, 2019 with the demolition of the Marriott entrance and signage along Bloor, and the installation of construction hoarding. By the start of the new year, steel work was evident atop the podium, where the new rooftop bar/restaurant is being constructed. Aerial views captured last week show the steel structure well underway, revealing the rough shape of the addition and its cantilever overhanging Bloor Street.

New rooftop addition at Hudson’s Bay Centre, image by Forum contributor gregl

New renderings being used to market the re-branded hotel recently appeared, offering a preview of the rooftop bar/restaurant and its patio, and common interior spaces like the lobby, which will include a DJ booth/recording studio for collaborating, broadcasting, and recording podcasts. Once complete, the $40 million project will also include other features like a 3,300 ft² fitness facility and 4,800 ft² of meeting spaces for social and corporate events.

New rooftop bar and restaurant patio, image via marriott.com

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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